Key takeaways

  • Choosing an eczema tracking method that fits your daily routine and personal needs is crucial for consistent use and effective management.
  • Various tools are available for tracking eczema symptoms and triggers, including specialized apps, photo logs, wearable devices for sleep and stress, diet trackers, and customizable digital spreadsheets.
  • Consistently tracking your eczema symptoms and triggers helps you identify what causes flares, assess treatment effectiveness, and provide valuable data for your healthcare team.

Tracking your eczema can play an important role in managing the condition. It can help you identify potential triggers, assess how well treatments are working, and give your healthcare team more accurate information over time.

Eczema triggers are factors that can cause symptom flares. According to the National Eczema Association, triggers can vary widely from person to person, which makes it especially important to understand what affects you.

Keeping a journal of your triggers and symptoms is a tried-and-true method, but there are a range of other tools that may better fit your needs and lifestyle.

Below are several ways to track eczema symptoms and triggers, from purpose-built apps to customizable spreadsheets.

The best tracking method is one that fits into your daily life and encourages consistent use. Before choosing a tool, consider the following factors.

Keep it simple. If a tool has many features, ask yourself whether you actually use them. Sometimes, a simple option may be superior, as overcomplication may discourage routine use.

Think about your needs. Different tools work for different people. Make sure the tool you select meets your personal needs. For example, do you want the ability to store photographs of symptoms? Would you like a way to track stress levels or sleep quality?

Consider privacy. Health information is sensitive. Look for tools with clear privacy policies that help protect your personal data.

The National Eczema Association offers an eczema-specific app called EczemaWise that offers users a range of features for managing their eczema. In addition to symptom tracking, you can track treatments, explore treatment guides, and print health data.

Another app, called Eczema care+, allows users to track symptom progress and record symptom severity. Users can share their observations with healthcare professionals to monitor treatment response.

The University of Nottingham offers a free app called My Eczema Tracker. This simple app uses regular questionnaires to help users identify trends in symptom progress and facilitate conversations with doctors. But this may not be the right option for someone who wants a comprehensive tool for recording specific details.

Tracking symptom severity over time can reveal trends, but photos of symptoms can add another valuable layer of clarity to what you’re experiencing. This is particularly useful when trying to convey details to your healthcare team.

The EczemaWise app allows users to upload and organize photos by body area and symptom severity. When you log a new symptom, you can upload a picture of your skin. This can make it easy to pull up important data when speaking with a doctor.

The potential triggers of eczema are varied. The National Eczema Association cites certain fabrics, metals, insects, and environmental factors as possible causes of flares.

There are other possible triggers that may be harder to quantify, such as stress, sleep trouble, and anxiety.

Wearable devices can help provide insight into the quality of your sleep, your activity levels, and the general stress your body is experiencing.

Wearable trackers, which you can use in conjunction with eczema tracking tools, are available from manufacturers such as:

  • Oura
  • Fitbit
  • Whoop
  • Apple
  • Garmin

If you believe there may be a connection between the foods you eat and your eczema symptoms, consider keeping a food diary to identify potential triggers.

Many diet-tracking apps are designed for people specifically trying to reduce calories, so look for one geared toward identifying allergens.

The app mySymptoms is a popular option for tracking what you eat and how you feel. It also lets you record lifestyle factors such as activity level and stress. It’s available on iOS and Android.

Spreadsheets offer the advantage of being inexpensive, accessible, and customizable.

You can use a cloud-based option, such as Google Sheets, which allows access from your mobile phone or desktop computer. Ready access means you can log an event as it happens, while it’s fresh in your memory.

Eczema triggers can be highly individualized. Identifying the factors that worsen your symptoms is an important step in preventing future flares.

Tracking tools can help you record symptoms, identify trends that could point toward specific triggers, and help you better understand your condition. They can also support more productive conversations with your healthcare team.

There is a range of tracking options available, from purpose-built apps to custom spreadsheets. The right method is the one that fits into your daily routine and supports consistent use.